Apparatus for treating organic material



March 25 T924; 1 w. E. OVERTON APPARATUS. FOR TREATING ORGANIC MATERIALOrigihal Filed April 14, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 NMI March 25 1924.

v w. E. OVERTON APPARATUS FOR TREATING ORGANIC MATERIAL 1920 sSheets-Shet 2 Original Filed April- 14 w m NMN March 25, 1924. 1,488,216

' I w. E. OVERTON APPARATUS FR TREATING ORGANIC MATERIAL Original FiledApril 14, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 N f 7/ (III on;

3 u 1 N Q v l N N I I 1 lllllll I v Patented ar. 25, 1924.

wrrrrs n; ovnrtron, or sarr rmoan, MARYLAND.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING ORGANIC MATERIAL.

Application filed April 14, 1920, Serial No. 373,990. Renewed August 20,1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIsE. Ovnn'roN, a

. ing, with arts ence being organic material, having for timore, in thecounty of Baltimore City and State of Maryland, have made a certain newand useful Inventionin Apparatus for Treating Organic Material; and Ideclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the invention, referhad to the accompanyingdrawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side view of a machine embodying the invention.

igure 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same.

Figure 3 is an end view of the same.

Figure 4 is a cross-section, showing the shell rotated 180 from normalosition.

Figure 5 is a similar View, with the parts in normal position.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the piproken away.

F1 ure is a view similar to Figure 5, showing a modified form of shelland piping connection.

Fi ure 8 isa side View, partly in section, of an end of the shell, withpressure'establishing connections.

The invention has relation to apparatus fortreating fish, garbage,sewage,- or other an object/to provide means to shorten the time neededin cooking, drying or cooling the material, and to enable large volumesof material to be economically treated without waste of fuel.

In the use of dr heat in direct contact with the material eing treatedit is now common to introduce the flames or gaseous products ofcombustion at one end of the heating chamber r oven above the surfacelevel of the material in said chamber and to blow or cause the hot gasesto pass through said chamber to the opposite end thereof, and in suchcases it has been found practicable to use only a comparativelythinlayer of material as a charge in the oven.

The invention is designed also to provide means for cooking a charge ofmaterial'as stated and for cooling and drying the cooked material,Without removal of the charge from the container or transferral to acooler and dryer.

' arranged horizontally sion 9, whereon is mounted Another object is toprovide means for passinga fluid heating medium from a suitable burnerthrough the material indirect contact therewith as stated; oralternately to provide means for first passing the heating mediumthrough the material in indirect contact therewith to indirectly heatthe material as through fines penetrating the ma terial, and thereafterto pass the fluid heating medium through the material in direct contacttherewith as stated.

.Another object is to adapt longitudinal fines penetrating the materialand through which the fluid heating medium is passed as stated to act asstirrers for material such as garbage which is of stringy character, theobject being to prevent the garbage from balling up or gathering uponthe stirrers.

Other objects and advantages will appear.

The invention consists .in the novel construction and combinations ofparts as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of the-invention, the numeral 2 designates a shell or container and normallystationary, said shell being either cylindrical or 'frusto-conical, andprovided with end heads .3, 3, and a top opening 4, usually about 12inches wide and as long as the shell will. admit of, said 0 ening havinga cover 5.

Located within the container is a rotat able cooking or drying (or heatconveying and radiating) and stirring member consisting of end heads 6,having each a flue sheet 7, connected by fines or tubes 8, arrangedpreferably in a single annular series and the members or tubes spacedapart by wide intervals, each tube having a radial stirrer extension 8directed inwardly of the container, said stirrer extensions being alsospaced apart by wide intervals and being comparatively short, leaving a.central open space 9. The end heads 6 have each a tubular extena gearwheel 10, engaged by a pinion 11, mounted upon a drive shaft 12. k

The end heads 3 are each provided with a tubular extension 17, withinwhich rotates the tubular extension 9, the first named extensions havingeach a stufiingbox 18, engaging the last named extensions and serving toprevent escape of the fish, garbage or other material being treated. Thegaseous products of combustion from a suitable oil or other burner areintroduced I into the container through a lower longitudinal pipe orpipes 23, having upstanding jet tubes 24 permanently engagingperforations in the bottom of the container.

In the treatment of liquidor semi-liquid substances the introduction ofdry heat or of the gaseous products of combustion below the level of thematerial in the container is ordinarily not possible or practicable forthe reason that it has not been found that the heat or gases can be madeto sufficiently penetrate the material to cook or dry the same, and infact applicant is not advised that any such method has ever beenattempted.

In order to carry out such a method or process applicant introduces thedry heat or gases in jets below the surface of level of the material asstated, and provides a suc tion draw off pipe 19, connected at 20 withthe top portion of the container, usually with one of the end headsthereof as shown and above the level of the contents or material,whereby the dry heat or gaseous products of combustion will be caused toeffectually penetrate the mass of material being treated, said materialbeing incidentally lifted orloosened to facilitate the this process,thecontainer may be substangle supply tially or three fourths filledwith the ma terial to be treated, leaving only a small space above thematerial for the suction pipe connection, and inasmuch as the dry heator hot gases pass directly through the material,

the heatthereof is economically utilized without waste, the separationof the dry heat or hot gases into jets affording means for mechanicalpenetration of the material being treated, equalizin the action of theheat upon said materia, and utilizing the maximum heat contents orcalories of the hot gases. The longitudinal pipes 23 are provided with asupply pipe 16, extending u'pwardlyabove the level of the top of thecontainer and having connection with a suitable heating -means to behereinafter described. The pipes 23 are preferably provided induplicateone set for the forward portion of the container and one set for therear portion thereof, each set having a sinpipe 16 and means being pro-Vided eremafter stated whereby either set of pipes may be supplied withthe heat or hot gases, or both sets of pipes may be so supplied at thesame time, the object being to shift the heat to either end portion ofthe container as may be required to meet the conditions arising intheunequal cooking or drying of the material. The stirrer tubes and blades8, 8, serveto push successive portions of the material in the containerinto line with the jet tubes or openings, and thereby facilitate thecooking or drying operation, equalizingthe operation and shortening thetime needed therefor.

A suitable heating means is employed as for instance a gasoline torchhaving a discharge tube 22, located within the tubular extension 9 andadapted to direct the flames and hot gases within the tubes 8, said fluesheet being provided with a deflector 2O.v

The supply pipes 16 for the jet tubes 23 are detach-ably connected attheir upper ends with a longitudinal pi e main 21 located above thecontainer an having at its forward end downward extensio n 22'connecting with the tubular extension 9 within which the burner org'asoline torch discharges the flames and hot gases; and at its rear endhaving a downward extension 23 connecting with the rear tubularextension 9 connecting with the rear end head 6 and tubes 8, said pipemam 21 having a VEIlXG a, adjacent to forward supply-pipe 16' and avalve '6, adjacent to the rear supply pipe 16. The pipe inai 21hasconnection with-the suction draw fl pipe 19 by pipe 24*. located inrear of the valve a, and having a valve 0, therein, thepipe 19 having avalve d therein, and 'a pipe 25 from the vacuum pump 26, havingconnection with the pipe 24' and the pipe 19 by a three. way joint 27,located a bove'the valve (l.

It is preferred that the dry heat or hot gases shall be first passedthrough the tubes 8 to heat indirectly the material being treated in thecontainer, and thereafter passed through the jet tubes 16, to heatdirectly the saidmaterial, and to accomplish this result with the pipingstated, the vacuum pump being set in operation to establish a suction inthe pipe-19, the valves a and a are closed and the valves b and d are 0en.

This method of treatment'being followedfor a suflicient time, and itbeing then desired to pass the dry heat or hot gases directly throughthe material without first passing the same through the aforesaid tubes8, the valve a is opened, the valve 6, is closed,

the valve '0, is left closed and the valve d, 'is left open, the vacuumpump c'ontinu-ing to suck through the pipe 19 as before. Upon opening ofthe valve and the closing of the valve d, the flames and hot gases willpass directly to the vacuum pump without the fire or burner.

The apparatus is equally applicable in cooling and drying material thathas been previously cooked, both the cooking and cooling operation orprocess being performed in the same apparatus without transfer of I thematerial from the cooker to a cooler or dryer. In cooling and drying,the burner or supply of heating medium i cutoff, and a supply of air orfluid cooling medium is furnished to the pipe 21, through the valves22", 23, and through the air door 30, the valves (1, b, and at beingopen and the valve 0 closed, and the vacuum pump being set in action todraw the air so supplied through the jet tubes and through the materialin the container in direct contact with said material, and out throughthe pipe 19.

The material in the container is reduced by. the cooking process toabout 20% moisture contents. prior to cooling, and in the coolingoperation the moisture contents is reduced to about 10%, which issufiicient for purposes of drying or dessieation, and to cause thematerial to keep indefinitely.

In case it is desired to usenaphtha or gasoline toextract the oil orgrease from the material or garbage being treated, after said materialor garbage has been cooked, or cooked and dried as stated, the pipes 19and 16 are disconnected at 31 and 37, and the container 2 is rotated onehalf around or through an arc of 180, upon the roller bearings 31, andannular tracks or supports 29 to position shown in Figure 4 of thedrawings, and naphtha introduced through the jet tubes 24 now located atthe top of the container, said naphtha thoroughly penetrating thehomogeneous cooked or cooked and dried material or garbage and passingthrough all parts thereof owing to the location of the jet tubes overthe entire or a large portion of the top of the container.

In this way, the oil or-grease will be thoroughly washed and dissolvedout of said material or garbage, and when the dissolvs ing actioniscomplete, the naphtha is to prevent escape of the material beingtreated when the container is reversed as stated. i 3

In Figure 7 of the drawings a mod fication of the apparatus is shownwherein the container '2' is provided with a jacket 3 surrounding thesame and provided with a longitudinal partition 4' at the. bottomthereof, the side walls of the container having jet holes 32, and thesupply pipe 21 for the hot gases having communication with the upperpart of the jacket by valved pipes 16.

In Figure 8 of the drawings a further modification of the apparatus isshown, wherein the means for supplying dry heat. or hot gases is an oilburner or gasoline torch 19 located in the combustion chamber of a coalfurnace 19', a. blower or compressor 32 having pipe connection openingat 33 in the ash pit of said furnace, the object. being to force the hotgases or gaseous products of combustion under pressure through the jettubes 24 and the mass of ma terial being treated, in direct contacttherewith; or through the fiues 8 and thereafter through said jet tubes.The blower or compressor is of suflicient power to enable any necessarydegree of pressure to be established, and will be used either insubstitution 'for "the means for establishing a suction fire is wellstarted,after which it is closed and the hot gases forced throughthe-flues 8 or pipe 22, as preyiously explained. In neighborhoodswheregno objection is made, the compressor may be used in substitutionfor the vacuum pump, and the cover of the container removed, the fluidtreating medium being forced out through the top opening of thecontainer after being passe-(ll through the material.

-In order that the vacuum pump shall work; properly, it is necessary,either that the moisture contained in the hot vapors shall be condensedprior to getting to the pump, by suitable means (not shown), or

that water shall be pumped direct to the pipe line between the vacuumpump and drier, means therefor also not being shown.

.I claim a 1. In apparatus for treating organic ma terial, a normallystationary container having perforations in the lower portion thereof, apipe having jet tubes having permanent engagement with saidperforations, means for supplying a fluid treating medium through saidpipe and jet tubes, said container being capable of rotary movement, andmeans for imparting a rotary movement to said container, pipe and jettubes.

2. In apparatus for treating organic material, a normally stationarycontainer having fiues extending therethrough and lower perforations,and-means including a system of valved piping for supplyin; a fluidtreating medium and adapted to introduce the same to said-containerinitially through said perforations or alternatively through said fluesand thence through said perforations.

3. In apparatus for .treating organicmaterial, a normally stationarycontainer having perforations in its lower portion, a rotary innermember having longitudinal flues open at theends, a lower pipe havingjet tubes permanently engaging said perforations, means for establishinga suction including a pipe having connection with the upper portion ofsaid container, a burner and a system of valved piping having connectionwith said suction pipe and adapted to cause the hot gasesfrom saidburner to pass therefrom above the contents of said containerimmediately :to said lower pipe 'and jettubes, or alternately to passthrough said longitudinal flues, and thereafter above the contents ofsaid container and through container and at the other end a valvedbranch connected with the other end extension of the container, andmeans forestablishing a suction connected with the upper portionv ofsaid container, and having a valved connection with the last namedwalved branch.-

5. In,apparatus for treating organicmaterial, a normally stationarycontainer having perforations in its lower portion and provided with endextensions, a rotary inner member having end extensions located withinthe first named extensions and provided with longitudinal flues 0 en atthe ends, a lower pipe havin jet tu es ermanently engaging said perorations,a urner located in one end extension of said con-' tamer, andmeans for establishing asuctionincluding a pipe having connection wit-hthe upper portion of said container, and a sys-- tem of valved pipinghaving connection with said suction pipe and adapted to cause the hotgases from said burner to. pass therefrom above the contents of saidcontainer immediately. to said lower pipe and jet.

tubes, or alternately to pass through said longitudinal flues andthereafter above the contents of said container and through said lowerpipe and jet tubes.

6. In apparatus for treating'org'anic material, an elongated containerhaving flues extending therethrough, one end of said flues having aheating connection andfthe other end thereof an outlet connection, and aplurality of valved heat ducts rovided, 70 each with jet openingscommunicating with said container.

.7. In apparatus for treating organic material, a container, means forestablishing a suction including a pipe having connection with the upperportion of said container, and means including a system of valved pipinghavingconnection with said suction pipe for directing a fluid treatingmedium alternatively direct to said suction pipe or initially to saidcontainer and thence to said suction pipe.

8. In apparatus for treating organic material, a normally stationarycontainer havin erforations extendin aloii the lower 35 e P g g portionthereof and an upper longitudinal screened compartment provided with avalved opening, an inlet pipe communicating with said perforations, andmeans for rotating said container to reverse the position of saidperforations and said screened compartment.

9. In apparatus for treating organic material, a container, a furnace, apipe communicating with the combustion chamber of said furnace, leadingtherefromto a point above the level of and adjacent-to said containerand thence to and communicatin with the lower portion of said container,and means for establishing suction inthe upper portion of saidcontainer. v

10. Apparatus for treating organic ma-. terial, including an innerrotary stirringmember and an outer normally-stationary container memberhaving a top opening and adapted for rotary movement lLxApparatus fortreating organic ma-- terial, including an inner rotary stirring member,an outer normally stationary container member having a top opening,means no for rotating said stirring member, and

means for connecting said container member rigidly to said stirringmember to rotate therewith.

12. Apparatus for treatinggorganic m'aterial, including an inner rotarystirring member, an outer normally stationary container member having ato openin and bottom perforations, means or Intro ucinga-heating mediuminto said 'containercomprising a pipe having'detachable connection withsaid container and adapted to communicate with said perforations, andmeans for rotating said container. g

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

I W EMOV'ERTON. Witnesses:

STUART HILDER.

